Chiral N-substituted allylic amine compounds

Abstract

The method relates to the field of asymmetric allylic amination and comprises preparing a chiral N-substituted allylic amine compound from the corresponding allylic substrates and substituted hydroxylamines, in the presence of a catalyst, said catalyst comprising copper compounds and a chiral ligand. Examples of chiral amine compounds which can be made using the method include Vigabatrin, Ezetimibe Terbinafine, Naftifine 3-methylmorphine, Sertraline, Cinacalcet, Mefloquine hydrochloride, and Rivastigmine. There are over 20,000 known bioactive molecules with chiral N-substituted allylic amine substructure. The method may also be used to produce non-natural chiral β-aminoacid esters, a sub-class of chiral N-substituted allylic amine compounds. Examples of β-aminoacid ester which can be produced by the disclosed method, include, but are not limited to, N-(2-methylpent-1-en-3-yl)benzenamine and Ethyl 2-methylene-3-(phenylamino)butanoate. Further, the products of the method described herein can be used to produce chiral heterocycles and bioactive molecules or materials. A novel chiral copper-ligand nitrosoarene complex is also set forth.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An isolated chemical compound having the formula [Cu(Ligand)2(ArNO)2]X2, wherein X is selected from a group consisting of halides, triflates, sulfates, acetates, and PF6. 
     
     
       2. The chemical compound of  claim 1  wherein the compound is a chiral copper-nitrosoarene complex having two nitrogen donor ligands and two counter ions. 
     
     
       3. The chemical compound of  claim 1  wherein the copper atom is bonded to two chiral nitrogen-donor ligands selected from the group comprising BINAM and NOBIN. 
     
     
       4. The chemical compound of  claim 1  wherein the copper atom is bonded to a nitrosobenzene.